Five members of Mississippi State’s defense, including three first-team selections, earned a place on the 2018 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football teams, the organization announced Monday.
Five Bulldogs Earn Associated Press All-SEC Honors
December 03, 2018 | Football
by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Five members of Mississippi State's defense, including three first-team selections, earned a place on the 2018 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football teams, the organization announced Monday.
Bulldog senior defensive end Montez Sweat, junior defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and senior safety Johnathan Abram were all tabbed to the AP's All-SEC First Team. After earning first team honors last season, Simmons and Sweat are the first defensive line duo in Mississippi State history to win First-Team All-SEC laurels from the AP in back-to-back seasons. With its three first-team defensive selections, MSU tied for the conference lead with LSU.
Sophomore linebacker Erroll Thompson and sophomore cornerback Cameron Dantzler rounded out the accolades with selections to the AP's All-SEC Second Team.
With five total selections MSU tied LSU for the third-most selections among the SEC, only trailing Alabama (8) and Georgia (7). Monday marked the first time that MSU earned a total of five AP All-SEC honorees since the historic 2014 season.
MSU's three first team selections were its most since the 2000 season when linebacker Mario Haggan, safety Pig Prather, cornerback Fred Smoot and offensive tackle Pork Chop Womack all took home first-team laurels from the AP. Monday also marked the first time since the 2000 season since MSU's defensive unit had earned three AP First-Team All-SEC accolades.
A semifinalist for the 2018 Bednarik Award and an All-American candidate, Sweat closed the regular-season as one of the most dominate edge rushers in the country. The Stone Mountain, Georgia, native led the SEC and finished sixth in the FBS with 11.0 total sacks, with seven total sacks coming in conference play, to average 0.92 sacks per game and rank second in the league. Sweat boasted 40 total pressures over the 2018 season, according to Pro Football Focus, which was the second most in the conference among all edge defenders.
Sweat added 51 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumbled over the regular season en route to two SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week selections and two national defensive player of the week laurels.
Part of MSU's dominant defensive line, Simmons closed the regular season with 59 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and four pass breakups. With a 91.1 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, Simmons ranked second among all interior defenders. An All-American candidate and semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, as well as virtually every national defensive award, Simmons' 14.5 tackles for loss ranked fourth in the SEC. A total of 45 of his 59 tackles came during conference play, which led all defensive lineman.
The Macon, Mississippi, native, was one of just four SEC defensive interior linemen with at least 15 hurries and four quarterback hits this season. He is just one of three players in the league with at least 12 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
Abram led the Bulldogs and finished seventh in the conference with 93 total tackles over his senior season. Putting on a clinic on the stat sheet, the Columbia, Mississippi, native added 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two interceptions, once forced fumble and one fumble recovery over his senior season.
The senior safety allowed a passer rating of 41.6 over his 40 targets this season, which led all SEC safeties. He closed the regular season with at least six tackles in eight of his last nine games. With a dominating performance against Arkansas, he became the first Bulldog since All-American Benardrick McKinney (2014) to record at least 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in a single game en route to becoming the first MSU student-athlete to win SEC Defensive Player of the Week since 2015.
Thompson closed the season ranking second on the Bulldog squad with 84 total tackles to go along with 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions over his breakout sophomore campaign. He led all SEC linebackers with a 90.9 coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus. The Florence, Alabama, native allowed just 0.44 yards per coverage snap, closing the regular season ranked second among the league's linebackers.
Hailing from Hammond, Louisiana, Dantzler was part of MSU's dominate cornerback corps that did not allow a touchdown all season. Dantzler totaled 38 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and ranked fifth in the SEC with nine pass breakups. Dantzler closed the regular season with a 33.3 passer rating when targeted to lead all SEC cornerbacks. Of his 47 targets, he allowed just 18 catches. His overall defensive grade of 87.2 from Pro Football Focus ranked third among all SEC cornerbacks during the regular season.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 1, taking on Iowa in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. CT.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
2018 Associate Press First Team All-SEC
Offense
u-WR - A.J. Brown, Mississippi
WR - Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
T - Greg Little, Mississippi
T - Jonah Williams, Alabama
G - Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky
G - Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri
C - Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
TE - Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
u-QB - Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB - Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
RB - Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
PK - Cole Tracy, LSU
All-Purpose - Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Defense
DE - Jachai Polite, Florida
DE - Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
DT - Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
DT - Quinnen Williams, Alabama
u-LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
LB - Deshaun Davis, Auburn
LB - Devin White, LSU
CB - Deandre Baker, Georgia
CB - Greedy Williams, LSU
S - Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
S - Grant Delpit, LSU
P - Braden Mann, Texas A&M
2018 Associate Press Second Team All-SEC
Offense
WR - Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
WR - Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
T - Martez Ivey, Florida
T - Andrew Thomas, Georgia
G - Zack Bailey, South Carolina
G - Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
C - Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
TE - Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
QB - Drew Lock, Missouri
RB - D'Andre Swift, Georgia
RB - Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
PK - Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
All-Purpose - Mecole Hardman, Georgia
Defense
DE - Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
DE - Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DT - Derrick Brown, Auburn
DT - Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri
LB - De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
LB - Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
LB —D'Andre Walker, Georgia
CB - Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
CB - Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt
S - Mike Edwards, Kentucky
S - Deionte Thompson, Alabama
P - Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU
2018 Associated Press Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year —QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
Defensive Player of the Year_LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
Newcomer of the Year —RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (Illinois transfer)
Coach of the Year_Mark Stoops, Kentucky
u-Unanimous selection
STARKVILLE – Five members of Mississippi State's defense, including three first-team selections, earned a place on the 2018 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football teams, the organization announced Monday.
Bulldog senior defensive end Montez Sweat, junior defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and senior safety Johnathan Abram were all tabbed to the AP's All-SEC First Team. After earning first team honors last season, Simmons and Sweat are the first defensive line duo in Mississippi State history to win First-Team All-SEC laurels from the AP in back-to-back seasons. With its three first-team defensive selections, MSU tied for the conference lead with LSU.
Sophomore linebacker Erroll Thompson and sophomore cornerback Cameron Dantzler rounded out the accolades with selections to the AP's All-SEC Second Team.
With five total selections MSU tied LSU for the third-most selections among the SEC, only trailing Alabama (8) and Georgia (7). Monday marked the first time that MSU earned a total of five AP All-SEC honorees since the historic 2014 season.
MSU's three first team selections were its most since the 2000 season when linebacker Mario Haggan, safety Pig Prather, cornerback Fred Smoot and offensive tackle Pork Chop Womack all took home first-team laurels from the AP. Monday also marked the first time since the 2000 season since MSU's defensive unit had earned three AP First-Team All-SEC accolades.
A semifinalist for the 2018 Bednarik Award and an All-American candidate, Sweat closed the regular-season as one of the most dominate edge rushers in the country. The Stone Mountain, Georgia, native led the SEC and finished sixth in the FBS with 11.0 total sacks, with seven total sacks coming in conference play, to average 0.92 sacks per game and rank second in the league. Sweat boasted 40 total pressures over the 2018 season, according to Pro Football Focus, which was the second most in the conference among all edge defenders.
Sweat added 51 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumbled over the regular season en route to two SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week selections and two national defensive player of the week laurels.
Part of MSU's dominant defensive line, Simmons closed the regular season with 59 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and four pass breakups. With a 91.1 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, Simmons ranked second among all interior defenders. An All-American candidate and semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, as well as virtually every national defensive award, Simmons' 14.5 tackles for loss ranked fourth in the SEC. A total of 45 of his 59 tackles came during conference play, which led all defensive lineman.
The Macon, Mississippi, native, was one of just four SEC defensive interior linemen with at least 15 hurries and four quarterback hits this season. He is just one of three players in the league with at least 12 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
Abram led the Bulldogs and finished seventh in the conference with 93 total tackles over his senior season. Putting on a clinic on the stat sheet, the Columbia, Mississippi, native added 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two interceptions, once forced fumble and one fumble recovery over his senior season.
The senior safety allowed a passer rating of 41.6 over his 40 targets this season, which led all SEC safeties. He closed the regular season with at least six tackles in eight of his last nine games. With a dominating performance against Arkansas, he became the first Bulldog since All-American Benardrick McKinney (2014) to record at least 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in a single game en route to becoming the first MSU student-athlete to win SEC Defensive Player of the Week since 2015.
Thompson closed the season ranking second on the Bulldog squad with 84 total tackles to go along with 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions over his breakout sophomore campaign. He led all SEC linebackers with a 90.9 coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus. The Florence, Alabama, native allowed just 0.44 yards per coverage snap, closing the regular season ranked second among the league's linebackers.
Hailing from Hammond, Louisiana, Dantzler was part of MSU's dominate cornerback corps that did not allow a touchdown all season. Dantzler totaled 38 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and ranked fifth in the SEC with nine pass breakups. Dantzler closed the regular season with a 33.3 passer rating when targeted to lead all SEC cornerbacks. Of his 47 targets, he allowed just 18 catches. His overall defensive grade of 87.2 from Pro Football Focus ranked third among all SEC cornerbacks during the regular season.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 1, taking on Iowa in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. CT.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
2018 Associate Press First Team All-SEC
Offense
u-WR - A.J. Brown, Mississippi
WR - Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
T - Greg Little, Mississippi
T - Jonah Williams, Alabama
G - Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky
G - Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms, Missouri
C - Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
TE - Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
u-QB - Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB - Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
RB - Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
PK - Cole Tracy, LSU
All-Purpose - Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Defense
DE - Jachai Polite, Florida
DE - Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
DT - Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
DT - Quinnen Williams, Alabama
u-LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
LB - Deshaun Davis, Auburn
LB - Devin White, LSU
CB - Deandre Baker, Georgia
CB - Greedy Williams, LSU
S - Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
S - Grant Delpit, LSU
P - Braden Mann, Texas A&M
2018 Associate Press Second Team All-SEC
Offense
WR - Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
WR - Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
T - Martez Ivey, Florida
T - Andrew Thomas, Georgia
G - Zack Bailey, South Carolina
G - Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
C - Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
TE - Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
QB - Drew Lock, Missouri
RB - D'Andre Swift, Georgia
RB - Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
PK - Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
All-Purpose - Mecole Hardman, Georgia
Defense
DE - Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
DE - Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DT - Derrick Brown, Auburn
DT - Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri
LB - De'Jon Harris, Arkansas
LB - Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
LB —D'Andre Walker, Georgia
CB - Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
CB - Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt
S - Mike Edwards, Kentucky
S - Deionte Thompson, Alabama
P - Zach Von Rosenberg, LSU
2018 Associated Press Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year —QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
Defensive Player of the Year_LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
Newcomer of the Year —RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (Illinois transfer)
Coach of the Year_Mark Stoops, Kentucky
u-Unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
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